Majority leader announces intent to debate flag protection amendment on floor of United States Senate in June

Majority Leader Bill Frist recently announced that the United States Senate intends to debate the flag protection amendment to the U.S. Constitution at the end of June.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the amendment on June 22, 2005.

"I'm thrilled that the Senate will soon have the chance to restore the right of Utahns and other Americans to protect the flag," commented Sen. Orrin Hatch.

"Congress had that right for more than 200 years until five unelected justices found a previously unknown Constitutional right to desecrate the flag. The American people want this amendment and I am hopeful that this will be the year the Senate sends it to the states for ratification," pointed out the Utah senator.

Hatch is the U.S. Senate's leading champion of the flag protection amendment.

The proposed constitutional amendment contains 17 words:

"The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States."

The amendment would not ban flag desecration. But after ratification, the amendment would restore the authority of the people's representatives in Congress to prohibit the activity in the event the federal officials choose to do so.

Approximately one decade ago, the Utah Legislature encouraged the state's congressional delegation to support a constitutional amendment to protect the flag,.

The Utah Legislature's support of amending the U.S. Constitution to protect led Hatch to introduce the amendment and fight for its passage in every succeeding U.S. Congress, according to the senator's office.

To date, every state in the union has petitioned the U.S. Congress to pass the flag protection amendment.

"Should the Senate pass the flag amendment, the nationwide debate over state ratification will be one of the greatest public discussions in American history," predicted Hatch.

"It will lead Americans toward a deep study of our nation's history and values and cause many Americans to renew their faith in the ideals and values of America," continued the Utah senator.

"By putting this issue back in the hands of the American people, this amendment restores the very liberties that our flag represents," concluded Hatch.